Container carrier and spout

ABSTRACT

A container carrier comprising an integral handle and integral pouring spout formed from a plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness.

United States Patent Klygis CONTAINER CARRIER AND SPOUT Inventor: M. Julius Klygis, Evergreen Park,

Ill.

Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, 111'.

April 20, 1971 Assignee:

Filed Appl. No.1

11.8. C1 ..29 4/31.2, 215/100 A, 222/475 Int. Cl. ..B65d 23/10 Field of Search.....294/31.2, 33, 87.2; 206/65 B; 215/100 R, 100 A, 100.5; 222/465, 475, 570; 224/45 R, 45 P, 46

[ 1 Aug. 1,1972

Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner--Johnny D. Cherry Attorney-Robert W. Beart, Jack R. Hzilvorsen. Thomas W. Buckman and Edward L. Benno [5 7] ABSTRACT A container carrier comprising an integral handle and integral pouring spout formed from a plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CONTAINER CARRIER AND SPOUT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a carrier for a single container wherein the carrier is formed from a resilient, elastic, deformable plastic material such as a semicrystalline polymer, one example of which is polyethylene. The plastic material is formed as a sheet of substantially uniform thickness, and the carrier construction includes an integral handle and integral pouring spout.

A feature of the invention is the compact arrangement of the different elements which permits the carrier to be punched, blanked or cut from the sheet material with-a minimum of scrap. The compact arrangement further permits side-by-side or end-to-end blanking or cutting of a plurality of carriers from the sheet material with a minimum of scrap.

The compact arrangement comprises an elongated band defining a container encircling aperture, a certain spout preferably formed within the band and as an integral part thereof, and a handle closely encircling one longitudinal side of the band and integrally formed with the ends of the band. The arrangement further includes frangible connections between the spout, the band, and the handle permitting the carrier to be easily handled, stacked, stored or transported. The integral spout of the carrier arrangement is so formed that it is easily flipped between pouring and storing positions and yet does not interfere with the container gripping action of the band. The integral handle is formed for easy movement between carrying and storing positions and also does not interfere with the container gripping action of the band.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple container carrier including a handle and pouring spout which may be blanked or cut from a relatively thin plastic sheet material with a minimum of scrap in the formation of the carrier and in the production of a plurality of carriers.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the hereinafter following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier of FIG.

1 applied to a container with the handle in storing position and the spout in pouring position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the structure shown in FIG. 2 with the spout in storing position; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 2 and taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT cumferential space about the cans and within the radial extent of the chimes of the cans. The carrier of the present invention including a substantial handle and spout uniquely cooperates with a can to permit close packaging of a plurality of cans with applied carriers in substantially the same sized carton required for the cans without carriers.

It is further desirable that the carrier be economical because the carrier is commonly discarded with the can. The carrier of the present invention is a unique economical arrangement because it is formed from a relatively thin sheet of plastic material with a minimum of scrap in the blanking of the carrier and in the blanking of a plurality of carriers from the sheet. It is contemplated that the relatively thin sheet of plastic material be a semi-crystalline polymer such, for example as polyethylene which at ambient temperatures is substantially resilient, elastic and deformable.

The preferred embodiment comprises an elongated band 11, an integral spout l2, and an integral handle 13. The band 11, spout l2, and handle 13 are blanked from a flat sheet of material such as described above. The band 11 has an inner circumferential length which is less than the circumference of the can 10, below the chime of the can 10. Because of the physical properties of the selected material and the relative width of the band 11, the band 11 will firmly grip the can 10 in a substantially flat condition against the surface of the can 10 as shown in FIG. 2. When the band 11 cooperates with the can 10 as shown in FIG. 2, the upper marginal edge of the band 11 will engage the underside of the upper chime of the can 10 to effectively lock the band 11 on the can 10.

The spout 12 is integrally formed on one longitudinal side of the band 11 within the aperture defined by the band 11. The line defining the border between the spout l2 and the band 1 l is provided with a plurality of slits l4 spaced apart longitudinally thereof. When the band 11 cooperates with the can 10 as shown in FIG. 2,

the portions of the band 11 extending along the slits 14 are positioned below the upper chime of the can 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This arrangement insures that the band 1 1 will not be accidentally pulled from the can 10 if an attempt is made to lift the can 10 by grasping the spout 12. In FIG. 2 the spout 12 is in pouring position, and in that position the arrangement and cooperation of the spout 12 with the band 11 is such that the spout 12 is firmly held the outer edge of the upper chime of the can 10.

A convenient storing position for the spout 12 is shown in FIG. 3. The shown storing position is attained by merely flipping the spout l2 outwardly and downwardly.

The extending edge of the spout 12 is connectedto the adjacent longitudinal side of the band 11 by a frangible connection 15. The frangible connection 15 is easily broken when the carrier is to be mounted on a container such as can 10. It may be noted in FIG. 1 that the longitudinal side of the band 11 connected to the spout 12, and the adjacent marginal edge of the spout 12 are formed in a shallow V-shape with the apex extending outwardly. This arrangement minimizes the scrap in blanking the carrier and provides the extending edge of the spout 12 with a properly shaped pouring and drip edge. The frangible connection 15 can serve to emphasize the effect of the point of the extending edged the spout 12 as a drip point.

The handle 13 is arranged closely to and extending along the longitudinal side of the band 1 l which is connected to the spout 12 at the frangible connection 15. The ends of the handle 13 are integrally formed with the generally semi-circular ends of the band 1 1 as may be seen in FIG. 1. The longitudinal center of the handle 13 is connected to theband 11 by an easily broken frangible connection 16. When the frangible connection 16 is broken, and the band 11 placed about a can as shown in FIG. 2, the handle 13 is positioned against and about the surface of the can 10. When the can 10 is to be transported, the handle 13 is raised above the can 10 with a fold being produced at each end of the handle 13 at the connection of the handle 13 to the band 11. It may be noted that because the handle 13 is connected to the band 11 at the lower edge thereof when the band 11 is on a can 10 as shown in FIG. 2, there is a tendency to inwardly cam the adjacent upper edge of the band 11 against the can 10 and below the upper chime thereof when the can 10 is transported by the handle 13 to inherently further provide a firm can gripping action by the carrier.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiment can be changed by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A container carrier formed from a sheet of resilient, elastic and deformable plastic material of substantially uniform thickness,said carrier comprising a container encircling band, an integral spout, and an integral handle, said container encircling band being shaped as a continuous elongated band having longitudinal sides and substantially semi-circular ends, said spout being elongated and longitudinally integrally formed on the inner marginal edge of one longitudinal side of said band and extending toward and adjacent to the inner marginal edge of the other longitudinal side of said band, said handle being generally U-shaped and extending adjacent the outer marginal edge of said other longitudinal side of said band to integral connection with the outer marginal edges of said semi-circular ends of said band.

2. A container carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the common border between said spout and said band includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart slits.

3. A container carrier as defined in claim 2, wherein the resilient, elastic and deformable properties of said material and the width of said band cooperate to produce a substantially flat arrangement of said band against the outer circumferential surface of a container when said band is applied about said container.

4. A container carrier as defined in claim 3, wherein said slits have a length so that the marginal edge of said slits defining the circumferential extension of said inner marginal edge of said band are positioned substantially against the outer circumferential surface of a container and immediately below the chime when said band is applied about a container immediately below the upper chime thereof.

5. A container carrier as defined in claim 4, wherein the resilient, elastic and deformable properties of said ma eri a d e len hs of the ma eria between the en 5 0 said siiis coogerate to permit said spout to be alternatively positioned in an upwardly extending pouring position and in a downwardly extending storing position when said band is applied to a container immediately below the upper chime thereof.

6. A container carrier as defined in claim 5, and a frangible connection between the inner marginal edge of said other longitudinal side of said band at the longitudinal center thereof and the opposed adjacent marginal edge of said spout.

7. A container carrier as defined in claim 6, and a second frangible connection between the outer marginal edge of said other longitudinal side of said band at the longitudinal center thereof and the opposed adjacent marginal edge of said handle.

8. A container carrier as defined in claim 6 wherein the marginal edges of said spout adjacent said other longitudinal side of said band are tapered from said frangible connection toward the opposite ends thereof.

9. A container carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein said other longitudinal side of said band is tapered to correspond to the taper of said marginal edges of said spout.

10. A container carrier formed from a sheet of resilient, elastic and deformable plastic material of substantially uniform thickness, said carrier comprising a container encircling band, an'integral spout, and an integral handle, said container encircling band being shaped as a continuous elongated band having longitudinal sides and substantially semi-circular ends, said spout being elongated and longitudinally integrally formed on the marginal edge of one longitudinal side of said band, said handlebeing generally U-shaped and extending about said band to integral connection with the outer marginal edges of said semi-circular ends of said band. 

1. A container carrier formed from a sheet of resilient, elastic and deformable plastic material of substantially uniform thickness, said carrier comprising a container encircling band, an integral spout, and an integral handle, said container encircling band being shaped as a continuous elongated band having longitudinal sides and substantially semi-circular ends, said spout being elongated and longitudinally integrally formed on the inner marginal edge of one longitudinal side of said band and extending toward and adjacent to the inner marginal edge of the other longitudinal side of said band, said handle being generally U-shaped and extending adjacent the outer marginal edge of said other longitudinal side of said band to integral connection with the outer marginal edges of said semi-circular ends of said band.
 2. A container carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the common border between said spout and said band includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart slits.
 3. A container carrier as defined in claim 2, wherein the resilient, elastic and deformable properties of said material and the width of said band cooperate to produce a substantially flat arrangement of said band against the outer circumferential surface of a container when said band is applied about said container.
 4. A container carrier as defined in claim 3, wherein said slits have a length so that the marginal edge of said slits defining the circumferential extension of said inner marginal edge of said band are positioned substantially against the outer circumferential surface of a container and immediately below the chime when said band is applied about a container immediately below the upper chime thereof.
 5. A container carrier as defined in claim 4, wherein the resilient, elastic and deformable properties of said material and the lengths of the material between the ends of said slits cooperate to permit said spout to be alternatively positioned in an upwardly extending pouring position and in a downwardly extending storing position when said band is applied to a container immediately below the upper chime thereof.
 6. A container carrier as defined in claim 5, and a frangible connection between the inner marginal edge of said other longitudinal side of said band at the longitudinal center thereof and the opposed adjacent marginal edge of said spout.
 7. A container carrier as defined in claim 6, and a second frangible connection between the outer marginal edge of said other longitudinal side of said band at the longitudinal center thereof and the opposed adjacent marginal edge of said handle.
 8. A container carrier as defined in claim 6 wherein the marginal edges of said spout adjacent said other longitudinal side of said band are tapered from said frangible connection toward the opposite ends thereof.
 9. A container carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein said other longitudinal side of said band is tapered to correspond to the taper of said marginal edges of said spout.
 10. A container carrier formed from a sheet of resilient, elastic and deformable plastic material of substantially uniform thickness, said carrier comprising a container encircling band, an integral spout, and an integral handle, said container encircling band being shaped as a continuous elongated band having longitudinal sides and substantially semi-circular ends, said spout being elongated and longitudinally integrAlly formed on the marginal edge of one longitudinal side of said band, said handle being generally U-shaped and extending about said band to integral connection with the outer marginal edges of said semi-circular ends of said band. 